Dust Goblin

In the midst of a blasted wasteland whose every stone is corrupted by the Great Old Ones’ touch, few natural creatures thrive. Dust goblins are the most robust exceptions. These creatures were once ordinary goblins, but the cataclysm that turned their home into wasteland forced them to adapt to the taint poisoning the land.

Twisted in both body and mind, the dust goblins spread across the badlands. They survive through cunning, ruthlessness, and a strange affinity for other creatures rejected by the natural world. Dust goblins thrive in the everlasting gloom of their desolate homeland, living among the rotting remains of destroyed cities, in roaming caravan villages, or in networks of tunnels.

Physical Description

Dust goblins are a corrupt, twisted breed of goblin. Their bodies are emaciated to the point that they appear almost skeletal. Their lips and gums have shriveled away, revealing yellowed, interlocking grins made of teeth ritually filed to points. Their skin ranges in tone from dusky gray to dark green and is marred by cracks, lesions, or tumorous growths. Their eyes gleam blood-red or bright gold when they catch a stray mote of light and glow in the darkness.

Barely reaching over 3 feet tall, dust goblins are shrunken and thin. The largest among them weigh barely 40 pounds, and most look like they’re teetering on the brink of starvation. They wear piecemeal armor and patchwork clothing, and their garments hang loose around the midsection—their bellies distend and bulge disturbingly after dust goblins gorge on flesh.

Racial Traits

Your dust goblin character has a number of characteristics derived from your wasteland heritage.

Age. Dust goblins generally reach maturity by the age of 12, but their environment and physical variations make it nearly impossible to draw conclusions about their lifespan. There are reliable reports of dust goblins as old as 40, but they rarely die of old age.

Size. Dust goblins stand just over 3 feet tall and are slender and emaciated. Your size is Small.

Alignment. Dust goblins have a marked tendency toward neutrality and evil, especially among those tribes that are most fanatical in their worship of the Great Old Ones. Those dust goblins on the fringes of the Wastes who enjoy trade with other races, however, see a larger occurrence of neutrality and occasional good tendencies.

Speed. Dust goblins are quick on their feet for their size. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Darkvision. Accustomed to life in the gloom, you can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and Goblin. The written form of the dust goblin dialect of Goblin is pictographic and capable of remarkable subtlety, though it is largely impenetrable to outsiders.

Special Traits

Alien Mind. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed or frightened.

Strange and Deadly Surroundings. You have proficiency in the Stealth and Survival skills.

Twisted. When you attack a creature from hiding, the creature must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw (DC 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Dexterity modifier) or be frightened of you until the end of its next turn.

Character Details

You can determine the specific details of your unlikely hero’s height and weight using the guidelines suggested in the racial descriptions. Remember that these are a snapshot of the average members of these races. Outliers exist in any population, allowing for vastly greater or lesser stature, or coloration outside the suggestion norm.

If you wish to randomly generate your hero’s physical characteristics, roll on the following table as appropriate for your character’s race and gender.

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